Pregnant? Eating fish can be good for you

Expectant mothers should eat two portions of fish a week to reduce the risk of their children developing brain disorders, say experts. Recent research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids...

health
and
fitnessUpdated: May 31, 2010 13:11 IST

IANS

Expectant mothers should eat two portions of fish a week to reduce the risk of their children developing brain disorders, say experts.

Recent research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids, also known as docosahexaenoic acid, found in fish, is essential for the brain to function properly.

Fish consumption among women of child bearing age in Britain is currently restricted due to concerns about the presence of potentially harmful contaminants.

"The Food Standards Agency issued advice to pregnant women about fish in 2004 which was ultra conservative. Since then, there has been research which indicates that women who have eaten more fish than those recommendations suffer no harm but their child's brain performance improved," telegraph.co.uk quoted Jack Winkler, director of the Nutrition Policy Unit at London Metropolitan University as saying.

Another study by Robert McNamara, from the department of psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, found that boys aged between eight and 10 who were given additional docosahexaenoic acid had increased brain activity in attention tasks than those given placebos, an inert medicine that makes people feel better psychologically.